Page 76 of The Love Penalty
He carries me to his bed, climbing onto it with me still in his arms. When he lightly drops me against his pillows, I let out a soft laugh and don’t mind one bit as he slowly undresses me until I’m wearing nothing.
Wrestling out the covers from under me, he rolls me onto my side and snuggles in behind me, wrapping his arm around my waist and kissing my shoulder before softly whispering, “Good night, my love.”
A smile curves my lips as I run my fingers down his arm and shuffle back into the curve of his body. My eyes drift closed in the safety of his embrace, and for the first time ever that phrase two become one kind of makes sense to me.
CHAPTER 33
ASHER
I wake with her still in my arms. The one tucked beneath her is now totally asleep, and though I don’t want to wake her, my bladder is calling—and I also wouldn’t mind surprising her with breakfast in bed.
Very gently sliding my arm out from under her neck, I wince when she lets out a soft moan, but then she relaxes back into sleep, and it’s maybe a little creepy—like Edward Cullen creepy—but I watch her sleeping for a minute.
No, do not ask me how I know about Edward Cullen and his stalker tendencies.
Okay, fine, I read the books.
But Halsey made me. And then I had to sit through the movies too!
All right, fine, it wasn’t torture. I kind of enjoyed them, although I couldn’t shut up about how fucked-up their relationship was. Edward was a possessive jackass, and Bella had basically no self-esteem. It bugged me that so many girls swooned over that. I may like being a gentleman, but I’d never lie to my woman in order to protect her. He just took everything too far.
When I told Halsey that, she got all pissy with me, threw a pillow at my head, and told me I was the least romantic guy she knew.
Screw her.
I can do romance.
A smile curves my lips as I shift away from Lani and think about her perpetual need to not let me be romantic. Jeez, she’ll fight me at every turn.
She doesn’t want to need me.
As much as her independent streak drives me crazy, it’s also one of the things I love about her. She’s strong and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. She’ll call me out on my bullshit, and last night, she let me call her out too.
And then she stayed.
She fucking stayed!
I throw on some boxer shorts and creep out of the room, using the bathroom upstairs so I don’t disturb her. It’s such a frickin’ mess, which means Casey must have been on bathroom detail this week. The guy does bare minimum when it comes to housework. If it weren’t for me, he’d live in pure filth, I just know he would.
Trundling back downstairs, I walk into the kitchen, humming under my breath, because like hell Casey’s gonna ruin my day. I hardly ever use the upstairs bathroom, so the wet towels on the floor and pee spots around the toilet are not my problem.
No wonder Mick and Ray wanted to move out of here. I would have, too, if I had to live upstairs. Thank God for my man cave, bedroom, and en suite.
Pulling the fridge open, I scan the contents and decide a veggie omelet will be perfect for breakfast in bed. I get the coffee machine going and start chopping up an array of colorful vegetables.
“What are you so happy about?” Casey croaks as he wanders into the kitchen. His hair is mussed, and his pajama bottoms are only just clinging to his hips. He looks tired and grumpy.
I grin at him. “Why are you up?”
A small puppy yaps behind him, and he gives me a dry look before shuffling to the sliding door and letting Fezzik out for a pee.
“Parenthood getting the better of you, huh?” I try not to laugh while Casey yawns and gives me the finger.
“If you fucking tell me you knew it’d be harder than I thought, I’m going to punch you in the ball sack.”
I chuckle, grabbing out the cheese and grating a pile onto the chopping board.
“Seriously, why are you so happy? And why the fuck are you going to so much effort on a Sunday morning?”